Pak PM to visit India on Nov 23

The India-Pakistan peace process and issues related to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation would figure high on the agenda of Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's maiden visit to India later in November.

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He will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders. Aziz, who will visit Sri Lanka and Maldives on November 21 and 22 in his capacity of SAARC chairman, will arrive in India at the end of his tour on November 23, Pakistan officials in Islamabad said.

During his two-day visit to the country, Aziz will hold comprehensive talks with Indian leaders, including President A P J Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other ruling and opposition leaders, they  said.

Aziz's itinerary was tentatively finalised after consultations with Pakistan's high commissioner to New Delhi Aziz Ahmed Khan on Saturday. The Pakistani envoy is currently in his country to finalise the arrangements.

Indian ambassador to Islamabad Shiv Shankar Menon also called on his counterpart last night to discuss the schedule.

A number of trade-related issues, including granting of MFN status to India and Pakistan's response to 72 proposals made by India during the last round of Composite Dialogue to improve trade relations between the two countries were
expected to come up for discussion during Aziz's visit.